Flight Sydney to Athens then ground transport to meet client, patient in Athens hospital. His condition was far worse than my pre assignment briefing notes had indicated. I immediately briefed the Sydney based medical expert retained by patient’s travel insurer that patient in need of advanced medical treatment unavailable to him in Athens. Insurer organised emergency air ambulance from Athens to London. I assisted with arrangements for transfers from hospital to Air Ambulance and accompanied client thru to hospital in London.

Pre-travel briefing - patient almost died from ingesting Dead Sea water. The water was highly toxic due to high concentrations of salt and numerous minerals. The patient spent many weeks in intensive care, prior to my arrival to bring her home. Client had been on an organised tour of Israel from her church when the accident occurred. This was her first trip overseas.

Assignment tasks initially to determine if patient fit to travel, capacity to walk short or long distance or if at all, capacity to attend to personal hygiene and to feed herself. Assured patient that I would be with her from start to end of journey and discussed what to expect along the way. I confirmed pre-booked seat location, confirmed pre-arranged access to on-board oxygen, ensured pre-booked wheelchair awaiting our arrival at Tel Aviv airport and Heathrow airport. Attend client’s hotel - pack her suitcase, obtain and secure all her valuables including documentation, patient’s passport, flight tickets and other travel documents. On arrival at Heathrow transferred client to Airport Hilton for 10 hour stopover then negotiated transfer back to airport, then thru customs/immigration then flight to Sydney. Oxygen needs and supply monitored for the whole flight to Sydney. Client unsteady on her feet given assistance to/from bathroom as and when required at anytime. All medical notes documented during the entire retrieval.